Joe Bravo (jockey)

Joe Bravo
Joe Bravo
	Bravo in the paddock at Monmouth Park (2011)
Occupation	Jockey
Born	September 10, 1971 (age 53); Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S.
Career wins	5,600+
Major racing wins
	Pennsylvania Derby (1994, 2003, 2008); Ballerina Handicap (1997); Donn Handicap (1997); Jamaica Handicap (1999); Belmont Futurity (1999); H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (2003); Haskell Invitational Stakes (2004); Cotillion Handicap (2006); Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap; (2011, 2016); Turf Classic Stakes (2012); United Nations Stakes; (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020); Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (2013); Arkansas Derby (2014); Spinaway Stakes (2014); Delaware Handicap (2015); Beverly D. Stakes (2015); Personal Ensign Stakes (2015); Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (2015); Champagne Stakes (2015); Madison Stakes (2016); Stephen Foster Handicap (2016); Forego Stakes (2016); First Lady Stakes (2017); Carter Handicap (2018); Spinster Stakes (2018, 2019); American Oaks (2019); Bing Crosby Stakes (2022) Breeders' Cup wins: ; Breeders' Cup Distaff (2019)
Racing awards
	Mike Venezia Memorial Award (2018); George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2022)
Significant horses
	A. P. Indian, Big Blue Kitten, Blue Prize, Danza, Little Mike, Sheer Drama

Joe Bravo (born September 10, 1971) is an American jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. The son and grandson of jockeys, he began his professional career in Thoroughbred flat racing at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida, at the latter end of 1988.

Nicknamed "Jersey Joe",^[2] Bravo has won 22 riding titles in his career at racetracks in New Jersey—13 at Monmouth Park and nine at the Meadowlands.^[3] He got his big break in 1997 when he rode Formal Gold to his victories that year. Bravo has won the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes five times, including three straight from 2004 through 2006.

In 2019, Joe Bravo won the Breeders' Cup Distaff, his first victory after 21 career mounts at the Breeders' Cup.

In June 2021, Bravo announced that he would be relocating to ride in Southern California, starting at Santa Anita Park. He will be represented by agent Matt Nakatani, the son of retired jockey Corey Nakatani.^[3] Bravo has declined to ride in New Jersey since the start of the 2021 Monmouth Park meet in disagreement with new rules regarding the use of the riding crop implemented by the New Jersey Racing Commission. He returned in 2022. ^[2]

^ "Joe Bravo". Equibase. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^ ^a ^b Ehalt, Bob (23 May 2021). "Riding Crop Rule Leads to Battle Over Safety in Jersey". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^ ^a ^b "'Jersey Joe' Bravo Moves Tack Out West". The Blood-Horse. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.

[EquibaseProfile-1] "Joe Bravo". Equibase. Retrieved 8 June 2021.

[bh230521-2] Ehalt, Bob (23 May 2021). "Riding Crop Rule Leads to Battle Over Safety in Jersey". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 8 June 2021.

[bh060621-3] "'Jersey Joe' Bravo Moves Tack Out West". The Blood-Horse. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.

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